Load cell array for detection of force input to an electronic device enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10782818-B2
Application number	US-201816116785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2018
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A force input sensor includes a load cell to adapt a compressive force applied to the force input sensor into a strain experienced by a strain sensor in the load cell. In particular, the load cell includes two compression plates separated from one another by a gap so as to define a volume between them. A flexible substrate (a “diaphragm”)—includes a strain sensor and is disposed and supported within the volume. One of the two compression plates includes a feature (a “loading feature”) that extends toward a central region of the flexible substrate. As a result of this construction, when the compression plates receive a compressive force, the loading feature induces a bending moment in the flexible substrate, thereby straining the strain sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
an interior sidewall surface; and
an exterior sidewall surface opposite the interior sidewall surface and configured to receive a force input from a user of the electronic device; and
a force input sensor coupled to the interior sidewall surface and comprising:
a first compression plate coupled to the interior sidewall surface;
a second compression plate separated from the first compression plate so as to define a volume between the first compression plate and the second compression plate;
a pair of supports extending into the volume from opposite ends of the first compression plate;
a strain concentrator having a curved profile comprising a maxima extending into the volume from the second compression plate;
a flexible substrate disposed within the volume between the first compression plate and the second compression plate, the flexible substrate comprising:
a first side coupled to the pair of supports; and
a second side in contact with the maxima of the curved profile of the strain concentor;

a first strain sensor disposed on the first side of the flexible substrate opposite the maxima of the curved profile of the strain concentor; and
a second strain sensor disposed on the second side of the flexible substrate between the maxima of the curved profile of the strain concentor and one of the pair of supports; wherein:

the force input sensor permits the first compression plate to move toward the second compression plate in response to the force input applied normal to the exterior sidewall surface; and
the strain concentrator induces a bending moment in the flexible substrate, tensing the first strain sensor and compressing the second strain sensor, in response to the first compression plate moving toward the second compression plate.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible spacer disposed between the first compression plate and the second compression plate, the flexible spacer configured to deform in response to the force input thereby permitting the first compression plate to move toward the second compression plate.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the strain concentrator is formed integrally with the second compression plate.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of supports are formed integrally with the first compression plate.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the strain concentrator comprises a shim coupled to the second compression plate.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the strain concentrator comprises a cured adhesive.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one support of the pair of supports comprises a shim coupled to the first compression plate.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a stiffener coupled to the first side of the flexible substrate.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the stiffener comprises a cutout aligned with the first strain sensor.

10. An electronic device enclosure configured to receive a force input, the electronic device enclosure comprising:
an exterior surface configured to receive the force input;
an interior surface opposite the exterior surface;
a loading feature having a curved profile defining a maxima extending from the interior surface;
a structure separated from the interior surface and defining a support offset from the loading feature;
a flexible substrate contacting the maxima of the loading feature and coupled to the support;
a first strain sensor disposed on the flexible substrate opposite with the loading feature; and
a second strain sensor disposed on the flexible substrate between the loading feature and the support; wherein:
the interior surface moves in response to the force input, thereby causing the loading feature to induce a bending moment in the flexible substrate and induce a tension in the first strain sensor and a compression in the second strain sensor.

11. The electronic device enclosure of claim 10 , comprising a frame defining the interior surface and the exterior surface.

12. The electronic device enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the frame is formed from stainless steel.

13. The electronic device enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the frame defines an exterior sidewall surface of the enclosure.

14. The electronic device enclosure of claim 10 , wherein the first strain sensor is disposed on the flexible substrate offset from the loading feature.

15. The electronic device enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising a foam spacer disposed between the interior surface and the structure.

16. The electronic device enclosure of claim 10 , further comprising a foam spacer disposed between the structure and the flexible substrate.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Deng Andrew
• Owens Travis N
• Majumdar Shubhaditya
• Lin Wei
• Wang ying-da
• Koch Timothy D
• Gupta Nathan K

Classifications

• G06F1/1626

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G06F1/1643

  the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads (details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615) · CPC title

• G06F3/0414 Primary

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title